Medical Coding Myths

Exactly what is a medical coder?

A medical coder is an individual that interprets written medical records and translates them into code sets prior to their insurance submission.

Codes sets come from three medical coding books: the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and the Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS).

Medical coders are trained in the proper use of these books as well as medical terminology, gross anatomy, and basic medical billing procedures.

The industry standard for education is certification through either the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) or the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Although it is true that certification is the only requirement for becoming a medical coder I would not agree that becoming a medical coder is easy.

This is not meant to discourage by any means, but to caution those who think they can invest a minimal effort and hit a gold mine.

Just as other professionals must invest in their education before starting their careers, so must individuals wishing to become medical coders.

Weather becoming certified through the AAPC or AHIMA both requires individuals to pass a comprehensive five and a half hour examination. Preparation for this single exam can take six months to a year to prepare for, and in some cases it is a one shot deal.

In addition to becoming certified individuals must also gain coding experience. One of the most difficult hurtles newly certified coders face is getting the first job. The majority of employers seek those with prior experience or additional education. With that being the case newly certified coders may have to be willing to take an entry level position to gain experience before progressing to their goal.

I've read a lot of articles, blogs, and sales pitches that try to convince individuals to become a medical coder based on outrageous claims of $60,000.00 or better a year.

Now I'm not saying that is not achievable, but it is also not the standard. On average (and I say average based on location and cost of living), a non-experienced coder (known as an apprentice) who has not obtained any higher education will start out with an annual salary around $30,000 - $37,000. That's not a bad salary for a single certification, however, it's not exactly phenomenal either. Unfortunately coding is not the "get rich quick" career some are selling it as.

Those who hold a medical coding certification and other forms of degreed education (ex. Associates, Bachelors, Masters) are generally paid more depending on the degree. The peak of the salary range is for those with a Master's degree who are often executives or small business owners. These are the individuals grossing $68,000 - $84,000 annually.

(For more great medical coding salary statistics click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.)

There are a lot of adds out there promising great money and work at home opportunities in order to sell their educational classes. Sadly many people have made the investment and obtained their certification only to find empty promises.

Do medical coding jobs from home really exist? Yes, they do. I myself have been coding medical records from home for three years now (and make good money too). These jobs do are not as available as many are lead to believe though.

Finding a job that allows individuals to work from home can be difficult. Since demand outweighs the supply they are not usually advertised very publically.

Another option I see a lot is the suggestion that once an individual becomes a certified medical coder they can start their own home based business. I find this claim to be the most offensive because of the risk and loss that can be placed on an individual.

Starting a home based business, particularly in medical billing and coding, takes money, education, and experience. A newly certified coder may invest their money and time attempting to start a business only to find this out the hard way.

There are certainly successful billing and coding businesses out there but I would be surprised if any started out as apprentices. Working from home is a great goal, but it is usually a future goal when just starting out.

Investing time in an organization and gaining as much experience as possible will pay off in the long run.

Medical coding is a solid career in a vastly expanding field and should be approached like any other career aspiration. Individuals who expect to invest little will get that in return.

Those who wish to succeed in this area of expertise should:

1) Obtain a quality education from a trusted source
2) Become certified through the AAPC or AHIMA
3) Expect to take an entry level position
4) Gain as much experience as possible
5) Consider further education
6) Set your goals high and never give up

If you choose to pursue a medical coding career research education facilities first. Remember that claims that sound too good to be true probably are. Also know that not all "coding classes" are created equal.

For classes offered by trusted sources that will properly prepare you for certification visit the AAPC and AHIMA's websites.